Suriname tourism minister Dr Alice Amafo

Sital submitted copies of receipts totaling 36.000 Surinamese dollars (US$13,000) to parliament in which was clearly stated that the expenses were in connection with the minister’s birthday party.

Stunned by the revelation of the alleged corruption president Ronald Venetiaan announced a thorough investigation into the matter.

Several opposition MPs called for minister Amafo’s resignation, stating that it is unacceptable that while in Suriname there is still extreme poverty for some of the people, government ministers use public funds for their pleasure.

The receipts were ordered and sanctioned by the director of the Ministry of Tourism, Communication and Transport (TCT). The government is to answer parliament next Tuesday over this matter.

Confronted with this issue by journalists, minister Amafo refused to comment. “All I can say is that the government has launched an investigation and we have to find out what exactly happened at my ministry,” said the embattled tourism minister.

Meanwhile finance minister Humphrey Hildenberg has informed the government in its weekly cabinet meeting Wednesday that he has ordered payment suspended of bills that have not been disbursed yet.

Members of Parliament argued that the Government Accounts Act has been skirted intentionally by the minister. For payments under the amount of SRD 4,000 (US$1,450) ministers don’t need approval of the cabinet, while for payments over SRD 30,000 (US$10.900) a public invitation to tender is necessary. In the tourism minister’s case payment of the total amount of SRD36.000 was done in installments just below 4,000 Surinamese dollars.

The alleged corruption of the young minister overshadowed the festivities in connection with International Women’s Day on Thursday. At a function in Albina at the border with French Guiana, minister Amafo was crossed off the list of speakers to address the audience. She was replaced by minister of labour Joyce Amarello-Williams.

“You are personally responsible for your actions. If you get involved in any wrongdoing, you will stand alone and all by yourself," President Venetiaan warned his ministers at the inauguration of his new cabinet in 2005. Minister Amafo was the youngest-ever cabinet minister appointed in Suriname.

The Nieuw Front coalition, which took office in 2000 and was re-elected in May 2005, has been plagued by several corruption scandals involving government ministers and several high ranking public officials.

Currently about 15 co-workers of the Ministry of Public Works are on trial for alleged corruption, while former minister of Public Works, Dewanand Balesar, is on trial before the Court of Justice. It is alleged that, during his tenure as minister, Balesar issued several contracts to fictitious contractors for work that was never done. He is due to appear before the court for the first formal hearing later this month.